Lawyer Accused of Stealing Over R2.6 Million from Widow: Court Orders Accountability

A Sandton lawyer is facing serious allegations of stealing over R2.6 million from a widow, with a court ordering him to account for the funds derived from a North West property sale. The accused, Mohseen Mayet, along with his Sandton-based law firm, has been instructed by the Gauteng High Court to provide full disclosure of the transactions involved.

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has ordered Mayet and his firm, Mohseen Mayet Inc., to make available all records related to five payments totalling over R2.6 million. These payments were part of the proceeds from the sale of a property belonging to the late Abdullah Ellemdin. The order requires Mayet to disclose details of all transactions from the trust account and provide substantiating vouchers to the co-executors of Ellemdin’s estate, Zunaid Abdoola and Ahmad Bham, as well as the Legal Practice Council (LPC).

In accordance with the Legal Practice Act, which mandates law firms to maintain accurate financial records, Mayet must now provide full transparency regarding the money received, held, or paid out on behalf of clients. This includes money invested in trust accounts, as well as any interest accrued and subsequently paid out.

In addition to the disclosure requirements, Mayet and his firm have been held jointly liable for the payment of over R2.52 million to Ellemdin’s estate. The court has further directed banking giant FNB, which manages Mayet’s trust account, to provide bank statements for the account from April 2022 to November 2023. This is to ensure full accountability regarding the handling of funds.

Furthermore, Mayet has been interdicted from operating any of his law firm’s bank accounts, including both business and trust accounts. The sole control of these accounts will be placed under his former partner, pending the outcome of the LPC’s investigation.

In his defense, Mayet explained that the funds were invested in a company named Ultimate Heli in 2021, with Abdoola’s permission. He claimed that the subsequent sale of shares in the company would yield a substantial return for the beneficiaries of the funds, including Abdoola and himself. Mayet stated that the capital invested would generate sufficient returns by June 30, 2025, to cover the owed amount.

However, the estate of Ellemdin has denied Mayet’s claims. They rejected his proposal to repay the funds by 2025, calling the claims fabricated. Abdoola has indicated he will pursue legal action against Mayet to recover the stolen funds.

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